Fluid quick connector with secure electrical contact

ABSTRACT

A quick connector includes a connector housing having a through bore adapted to mate with an endform. An electrical contact is mountable in the bore of the connector housing and includes contact members in the form of projections to provide a secure electrical connection between the endform and the connector housing when the male endform is mounted in the connector housing. In one aspect, the electrical contact is formed as the spacer or top hat in the quick connector housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to fluid quickconnectors which couple male and female connector components.

[0002] Snap-fit or quick connectors are employed in a wide range ofapplications, particularly, for joining fluid carrying conduits inautomotive and industrial application. Such quick connectors utilizeretainers or locking elements for securing a male connector component,such as a tubular conduit, within a complimentary bore of a femaleconnector component or housing. Such retainers are typically of eitherthe axially-displaceable or radially-displaceable type. The terms“axially-displaceable” or “radially-displaceable” are taken relative tothe axial bore through the female component.

[0003] In a typical quick connector with an axially displaceable,retainer, the retainer is mounted within a bore in a housing of thefemale connector component of housing. The retainer has a plurality ofradially and angularly extending legs which extend inwardly toward theaxial center line of the bore in the housing. A tube or male componentto be sealingly mounted in the bore in the female component includes aradially upset portion or flange which abuts an inner peripheral surfaceof the retainer legs. Seal and spacer members as well as a bearing ortop hat are typically mounted in the bore ahead of the retainer to forma seal between the housing and the male fitting when the male fitting islockingly engaged with the retainer legs in the housing.

[0004] Radially displaceable retainers are also known in which theretainer is radially displaceable through aligned bores or aperturesformed transversely to the main throughbore in the female componenthousing. The radially displaceable retainer is typically provided with apair of depending legs which are sized and positioned to slip behind theradially upset portion or flange on the male conduit only when the maleconnector or conduit is fully seated in the bore in the femalecomponent. This ensures a positive locking engagement of the conduitwith the female component as well as providing an indication that theconduit is fully seated since the radially displaceable retainer can befully inserted into the female component only when the conduit has beenfully inserted into the bore in the female component.

[0005] Regardless of the type of retainer, the female housing orcomponent portion of a fluid connector typically includes an elongatedstem having one or more annular barbs spaced from a first end. The barbsprovide secure engagement with a hose or conduit which is forced overthe barbs to connect the female housing with one end of the conduit.

[0006] In certain fluid flow applications, such as vehicle fuel deliverysystems, the fast flowing fuel creates a static electric charge whichmust be dissipated to minimize the danger of explosion. Multi-layertubes containing an internal electrically conductive layer have beenprovided for conducting any static charge buildup to an electricalground connection to thereby dissipate the static charge. In suchapplications, the housing of quick connectors have been formed withconductive materials to complete a static charge conductive path betweenthe conductive layer in the multi-layer tube connected to one end of thehousing and the typically metal or conductive plastic male endform orconduit inserted into the other end of the connector housing.

[0007] However, a reliable, continual contact between the endforms andthe inner surfaces of the conductive quick connect housing is not alwayspossible due to manufacturing tolerances. This results in intermittentelectrical contact which can lead to built up static electricity in thefuel system which, in turn, increases the opportunity for an explosion.

[0008] Thus, it would be desirable to provide a quick connector whichmaintains secure electrical contact with an internally receivedelectrically conductive endform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a fluid quick connector with anelectrical contact which provides a secure electrical connection betweena mated connector body and male endform.

[0010] In one aspect, the fluid quick connector is formed of a connectorhousing having through bore adapted to mate with a male endform. Aretainer locks the male endform in the connector housing.

[0011] A seal assembly includes at least one of an O-ring, a spacerand/or a top hat which are disposed in the bore of the connector housingto seal the male endform to the connector body.

[0012] The electrical contact is provided in the quick connector as aseparate element in the bore of the connector housing, such as on one ofthe spacer or the top hat to provide a secure electrical connectionbetween the male endform and the connector housing when the male endformis mounted in the bore in the connector housing. The contact includes acontact member in the form of a radially inward extending projectioncarried on an inner surface of the separate element, such as the spaceror the top hat which is adapted to engage an outer surface of the maleendform. Since the electrical contact is formed of an electricallyconductive material and fixed in position in the connector housing, theelectrical contact provides a secure electrical connection between theconductive male endform and the conductive connector housing to form anelectrical path to dissipate static electric charge which may build upin the fuel system due to fluid flowing through aligned bores in themale endform and the connector body.

[0013] The contact member is at least one projection and, preferably, isplurality of circumferentially spaced projections carried or integrallyformed on an inner surface of contacts, such as on the spacer or tophat. An inner end of each projection is disposed at a diameter withrespect to the ends of other projections or the surrounding bore in theconnector housing which is substantially equal to or slightly greaterthan the outer diameter of the tip end of the male endform. This insuressecure contact between the contact member and the male endform.

[0014] The fluid quick connector with the unique electrical contact ofthe present invention provides a secure electrically conductive paththrough the quick connector to a remote ground which has heretofore notbeen continually available fluid in quick connectors. The conductivepath is formed by contact members carried on or integrally formed on thecontact, such as on the spacer or top hat components in the quickconnector. This eliminates the need for additional components to providethe electrically conductive path between the male endform and theconnector housing so as to minimize manufacturing costs. Further, thecontact member is disposed so as to provide a wiping action when themale endform is inserted into the bore in the connector housing toprovide the desired secure, continuous electrical contact between themale endform and the surrounding connector housing. This conductive pathfinds advantageous use with conduits or multi-layer tubes having aninner electric charge dissipative layer. When such conduits or tubes arefixedly mounted on one end of the connector housing, the inner electriccharge dissipative layer is disposed in contact with the conductiveconnector housing thereby insuring a continuous conductive pathway toground through the male endform, the connector housing and the conduitor tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The various features, advantages and other uses of the presentinvention will become more apparent by referring to the followingdetailed description and drawing in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a quick connector usingthe electrical contact according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged, left end, perspective view of the retainershown in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is an end view of the quick connector and retainer, withthe retainer shown in a partially inserted, storage position;

[0019]FIG. 4 is an end view of the quick connector and retainer, withthe retainer depicted in a fully inserted, position in the femalecomponent;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view generally taken along line 5-5 inFIG. 4;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrical contact in the formof a spacer according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a top hat electrical contactaccording to another aspect of present invention;

[0023]FIG. 8 is an end view of the top hat shown in FIG. 7; and

[0024]FIG. 9 is a partial, enlarged view of the projection on the tophat shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] For clarity in understanding the use and operation of the presentinvention, reference will first be had to FIGS. 1-5 which depict aretainer 10 which lockingly couples female and male components 12 and14, respectively, of a fluid quick connector 16.

[0026] The following description of the female connector component orelement 12 is by way of example only as the female connector component12 may have any suitable shape typically found in quick connectors.

[0027] Further, the following description of the use of the fluid quickconnector to connect tubular members will be understood to apply to theconnection of conduits, hoses, and/or solid metal or plastic tubes toeach other in fluid flow communication. The end of a conduit or tubularmember inserted into the interior of one end of the quick connect willbe defined as an endform. The endform can be a separate member whichreceives a separate hose or conduit at one end or a shape integrallyformed on the end of an elongated metal or plastic tube. Further, theendform can be integrally formed on or mounted as a separate element toa fluid use device, such as a pump, filter, etc., rather than as part ofan elongated conduit.

[0028] The present quick connector finds advantageous use with tubularmembers, such as conduits, tubes, or hoses which are capable of defininga continuous electrically conductive path through the tubular memberitself or through a conductive layer or portion of the tubular member.For example, conductive layers have been provided in multi-layer tubesas disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,524,673, and 5,743,304. Reference ismade to these conductive layers which provide an electrically conductivepath from the quick connector of the present invention to a remoteelectrical ground to dissipate static electric charges which can buildup within the fuel system due to fast flowing fluids, such as vehiclefuels.

[0029] The female component 12 includes a housing 20 having anelongated, axially extending, internal stepped bore 22, shown in detailin FIG. 5, extending from a large diameter first, open end 24 to asmaller diameter, second open end 26. The stepped bore 22 includes afirst bore portion 21 extending from an opening at the first end 24 ofthe housing 20 to a second smaller diameter second stepped bore portion23. A third yet smaller diameter stepped bore portion 25 extends axiallyfrom one end of the second stepped bore portion 23 and communicates to astill smaller fourth stepped bore portion 27 which extends to the opensecond end 26 of the housing 20.

[0030] As is conventional, a top hat or bearing 34 is mounted in thesecond stepped bore portion 23 immediately adjacent the end of the firstbore portion 21. A seal means 30 is also mounted in the second steppedbore portion 23 between one end of the top hat 34 and the third steppedbore portion 25.

[0031] The inner diameter of the first stepped bore portion 21 is sizedto slidably receive the outer diameter of the radially enlarged flangeor upset bead 18 formed on the male component or fitting 14. Further,the inner diameters of the seal means 30 and the top hat 34 are sized tosealingly engage the outer diameter of the end portion 11 of the malecomponent 14 extending from the radially enlarged flange 18 to the tipend 13 of the male component 14. The third stepped bore portion 25 hasan inner diameter sized to snugly engage the outer diameter of the endportion 11 of the male component 14 when the male component 14 is fullyinserted into the stepped bore 22 as described hereafter. The seal means30 is formed, by example, of at least one and preferably two o-rings 31which are separated by a rigid, annular spacer 33.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3,and 4, the first end 24 of the housing 12is formed with a pair of opposed, exterior flat surfaces 40 and 42. Theflat surfaces 40 and 42 are diametrically opposed on the first end 24and may be centrally located on each diametrical side of the first end24. The adjacent surfaces of the housing 20 to one side of the flatsurfaces 40 and 42 form an opposed pair of lock surfaces or flats, suchas a first flat 43 and a second flat 44. A second pair of flats 45 and46 are formed on the housing 12 or the other side of the flat surfaces40 and 42. The flats 43 and 44 extend axially a short distance from thefirst end 24 of the housing 20. Opposed surfaces 48 and 50 of the firstend 24 of the housing 20 between the flats 43 and 44 and the flats 45and 46 have a generally arcuate shape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.Apertures 49 and 51 are formed respectively in each surface 48 and 50.The apertures 49 and 51 are aligned to form a transverse bore extendingthrough the first end 24 of the housing 20 which is disposed incommunication with the first bore portion 21 in the housing 20.

[0033] The retainer 10, described hereafter, is by way of example onlyas other radially-displaceable retainer designs having side lockingprojections may also employ the release tool of the present invention.Alternately, the housing 12 can be reconfigured to receive an axial-typeretainer.

[0034] The retainer 10 is formed of a one-piece body of a suitableplastic, such as polyketone, for example, and has an end wall 62 formedof a generally curved or arcuate shape, by way of example only, andfirst and second spaced side legs 64 and 66. The side legs 64 and 66extend generally parallel to each other from opposite ends of the endwall 62. Further, each side leg 64 and 66 has an outer end 72, althoughit is also possible to connect the side legs 64 and 66 at a lowerportion by an arcuate member.

[0035] A pair of projections 70 extend along the length of the retainer10 between opposed side edges of the side legs 64 and 66, respectively.The projections 70 are located adjacent the outer end 72 of each leg 64and 66. The projections 70 engage surfaces on the housing 12 to positionthe retainer 10 in the shipping position shown in FIG. 3, or in thefully inserted, latched position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0036] Further, a pair of outward extending lock tabs or edges 74 areformed adjacent the end wall 62 on each side leg 64 and 66.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the retainer 10 includes a radially flangereceiving means 80 which is preferably carried as an integral, one-piecepart of the retainer 10. The radial flange receiving means 80 includesfirst and second depending arms 82 and 84 which extend from a boss orenlargement 86 integrally formed on the inner surface of the end wall 62of the retainer 10. An inverted, U-shaped slot 88 is formed on the innersurfaces of the arms 82 and 84 and the boss 86 which is sized to snuglyconform to the outer diameter of the tubular portion 11 of the malecomponent 14. The outer ends 91 of each of the arms 82 and 84 are angledor tapered to act as a guide surface to assist in sliding movement ofthe arms 82 and 84 over the tubular end 11 of the male component 14.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,each of the arms 82 and 84 extends fromone side end contiguous with a first side end 90 of the retainer 10 toan opposed side end contiguous with a second side end 92 of the retainer10.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the projections 70 on the legs64 and 66 of the retainer 10 are formed with an angled hook-like shapeterminating in a tip 95. The tip 95 is disposed at an acute, upturnedangle with respect to the corresponding legs 64 and 66.

[0040] Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in greater detail inFIG. 6, the grooves 40′ and 42′ are formed in the interior of the flatsurfaces 40 and 42, respectively, and include a recess or notch 96 atone end which is shaped complimentary to the shape of the tip 95 of theprojection 70 on each of the legs 64 and 66 of the retainer 10. In thismanner, pull out of the retainer 10 from the housing 12 is resisted bythe interlocking tips 95 on the legs 64 and 66 of the retainer 10 whichare seated within the notches 96 in the grooves 40′ and 42′ in thehousing 12 as shown in the partially inserted, shipping position of theretainer 10 in FIG. 3. The flats or lock edges 44 and 46 are disposed atan angle complimentary to the acute angle of the tips 95 on the legs 64and 66 of the retainer 10. This enables interlock of the tips 95 withthe flats 44 and 46 resists pull out of the retainer 10 from the housing12 from the fully latched position shown in FIG. 4.

[0041] The hook shaped tips 95 on the legs 64 and 66 of the retainer 10in conjunction with the grooves 40′ and 42′ in the housing 12 alsoprovide, a distinct, “avalanche effect” snap action of the retainer 10in the housing 12. The grooves 40′ and 42′ in the housing 12 are formedin generally planar flat surfaces. The inner surfaces force the ends 72of the legs 64 and 66 laterally inward toward each other when theretainer 10 is inserted into the housing 12. When the tips 95 clear oneedge of the grooves 40′ and 42′, the resilient nature of the legs 64 and66 snaps the ends 72 and the tips 95 laterally outward to create an“avalanche effect” which provides a distinct tactile feedback to theuser indicating that the retainer has lockingly engaged the housing 12in either the partially inserted position shown in FIG. 3 or the fullyinserted position shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] It should be noted that further insertion force on the retainer10 moving the retainer 10 from the partially inserted position shown inFIG. 3 to the fully inserted position shown in FIG. 4 again causes theend 72 of the legs 64 and 66 to be urged laterally inward when the tips95 of the legs 64 and 66 slide along the lower portion of the innersurfaces. When the tips 95 clear the outer end of the inner surfaces,the legs 64 and 66 spring laterally outward in a distinct “avalancheeffect” manner. The lower ends of the grooves 40′ and 42′ are angled toenable the tips 95 to slide out of the grooves 40′ and 42′ toward thefully latched position.

[0043] The retainer 10 can be first be installed on the housing 12 in ashipping or storage position as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, theprojections 70 on the side legs 64 and 66 of the retainer 10 snap intoand engage the longitudinally extending grooves 40′ and 42′.

[0044] Further insertion of the retainer 10 through the alignedapertures 49 and 51 in the housing 12 causes the ends 72 of the legs 64and 66 to pass along the lower portion of the inner surfaces of the flatsurfaces 40 and 42 until the tips 95 clear the ends of the surfaces andthen snap outward exteriorly of the outer surface of the first end 24 ofthe housing 12 as shown in FIG. 4. In this fully inserted position ofthe male component 14 in the female component 12, the annular flange 18on the male component 14 is situated ahead the arms 82 and 84 of theretainer 10. This position represents the fully latched position inwhich the male component 14 is fully seated in and lockingly engagedwith the female component 12. The full insertion of the retainer 10 intothe housing 12 also provides visible indication of the fully lockedconnection of the male and female components 14 and 12, respectively.

[0045] It should be noted that if the male component 14 is not fullyengaged or seated within the housing 12, the annular flange 18 on themale component 14 will not be properly situated within the transversebore in the housing 12 to slidably receive the arms 82 and 84 in theretainer 10. If the annular flange 18 on the male component 14 is at anyposition other than shown in phantom in FIG. 5, the arms 82 and 84 onthe retainer 10 will contact the annular flange 18. Since the spacingbetween the inner surfaces of the legs 82 and 84 is less than the outerdiameter of the annular flange 18, the retainer 10 cannot be moved tothe fully inserted position thereby providing an indication of anincomplete seating or mounting of the end portion 11 of the malecomponent 14 in the housing 12.

[0046] According to one aspect of the present invention, which is shownin detail in FIG. 6, an electrical contact is disposed within thehousing 20 of the female component 12 to provide a secure electricalcontact between the conductive male component or endform 14 and theconductive female component 12. In this aspect, the housing 20 iselectrically conductive, either by being formed of a conductive metalor, when formed of a plastic, being doped or filled with sufficientelectrically conductive particles to render it conductive. Likewise, themale component 14, in this aspect, is also conductive by being made of aconductive metal or a plastic filled with sufficient conductiveparticles to render the entire male component 14 electricallyconductive.

[0047] According to this aspect of the invention, the electrical contactis an element mountable in the bore portion 23 of the connector orhousing 20. In one aspect, the contact is formed as the spacer 33, whichis made of an electrically conductive material. The spacer 33 carries atleast one and, preferably a plurality of contact members, such asprojections 35 which are disposed on an inner edge of the spacer 33 andproject radially inward into the bore in the housing 20. Threeequi-circumferentially spaced projections 35 are shown by way of exampleonly in FIG. 6.

[0048] The projections 35 may take any suitable shape such as therounded or smoothly curved shape shown in FIG. 6. A pyramidal,polygonal, or other shape may also be employed for the projections 35.

[0049] The projections 35 are positioned to securely engage the outersurface of the tip end 13 of the male endform 14 when the male endform14 is inserted into the housing 20. Since the spacer 33 is provided withan outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of thestepped bore portion 23 in the housing 20, the spacer 33 is disposed insecure contact with the housing 20. In this manner, the spacer 33 andthe projections 35 function as the contact member to provide a secureelectrical connection between the male endform 14 and the housing 20 ofthe female component 12. This electrical connection insures a continuouselectrically conductive path through the quick connector 16 whichenables any static electrical charge generated by fluid flowing throughthe connector housing 20 to be dissipated through the quick connector 16and any connected component, such as the aforementioned multi-layer tube37 which is provided with an inner electrical charge dissipationconductive layer 39, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0050] In another aspect of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7-9,the electrical contact is formed of the top hat 34.

[0051] In this aspect, the top hat 34, by example only, and as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, is formed of a one-piece, electrically conductive bodyhaving a through bore 100 which extends from a tapered inlet at a firstend 102 of the top hat 34 to an opposed second end 104. The exteriorsurface of the top hat 34 is formed with a first annular recess 106which is adapted to engage a projection in the bore of the housing 20,and an adjacent raised or enlarged diameter annular portion 108 which isadapted to snap into a corresponding recess formed in the housing 20 asshown in FIG. 5 to lock the top hat 34 in the housing 20.

[0052] In this aspect, the contact member is formed as an integral partof the top hat 34 and is in the form of at least one and, preferably, aplurality of circumferentially spaced projections 110. By example only,three projections 110 are equi-circumferentially spaced about an innersurface 112 of the top hat 34 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0053] The projections 110 may have any shape, such as smoothly curved,polygonal. By example only, and as shown in detail in FIG. 9, eachprojection 110 has a generally pyramidal shape extending radially inwardfrom the inner surface 112 of the top hat 34.

[0054] The projections 110 function in the same manner as theprojections 35 in the previously described aspect of the invention inthat the projections 110 are disposed in the path of insertion of thetip end 13 of the male endform 14 into the bore in the housing 20. Theprojections 110 have a height so as to securely engage the outer surfaceof the tip end of the male endform 14. Since the top hat 34 is lockinglymounted in the housing 20, as described above, the contact members 110provide a secure electrical connection between the conductive male endform 14 and the conductive housing 20 of the female component 12.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid quick connector comprising: a connectorhousing configured to mate with an endform; an electrical contactmounted in the connector housing for establishing electrical contactbetween an outer surface of endform and the connector housing.
 2. Thefluid quick connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical contactcomprises: an electrically conductive annular body having an outerdiameter disposing the body in contact with an inner diameter of thebore in the connector housing; and a radially inward extending contactmember carried on the electrical contact adapted to engage the maleendform where the endform is mounted in the bore in the connectorhousing.
 3. The fluid quick connector of claim 2 wherein: the at leastone projection comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedprojections.
 4. The fluid quick connector of claim 3 wherein: theplurality of circumferentially spaced projections comprises at leastthree projections.
 5. The fluid quick connector of claim 3 wherein theplurality of projections are equi-circumferentially spaced about aninner surface of the annual body.
 6. The fluid quick connector of claim1 wherein the electrical contact comprises: an electrically conductivetop hat mountable in a bore of the connector housing for holding a sealelement in the bore, the top hat having an inner bore receiving theendform; and the contact member being at least one radially inwardextending projection carried on the top hat adapted to engage theendform when the endform is inserted into the bore in the connectorhousing.
 7. The fluid quick connector of claim 6 wherein: the at leastone projection comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedprojections.
 8. The fluid quick connector of claim 7 wherein: theplurality of circumferentially spaced projections comprises at leastthree projections.
 9. The fluid quick connector of claim 7 wherein theplurality of projections are equi-circumferentially spaced about aninner surface of the top hat.
 10. The fluid quick connector of claim 1wherein the electrical contact comprises: a spacer mounted in the boreabout the endform; and the contact member being at least one radiallyinward extending projection carried on the spacer adapted to engage theendform when the endform is inserted into the bore in the connectorhousing.
 11. The fluid quick connector of claim 1 further comprising:the connector housing and the endform being electrically conductive. 12.A fluid quick connector comprising: a connector housing configured tomate with an endform; a spacer mounted in a through bore of theconnector housing about the male endform to the connector housing; andan electrical contact member carried on the spacer for establishingelectrical contact between the endform and the connector body.
 13. Thefluid quick connector of claim 11 wherein the contact member comprises:the spacer formed of an electrically conductive material; and at leastone radially inward projection carried on the spacer adapted to engagethe endform where the endform is mounted in the bore in the connectorhousing.
 14. The fluid quick connector of claim 13 wherein: the at leastone projection of the contact member comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced projections.
 15. The fluid quick connector ofclaim 13 wherein: the plurality of circumferentially spaced projectionscomprises at least three projections.
 16. A fluid quick connectorcomprising: the connector housing and the endform being electricallyconductive; a top hat mountable in a bore of the connector housing forholding the a seal element in the bore, the top hat receiving theendform therethrough, the top hat formed of an electrically conductivematerial; and the electrical contact member being at least one radiallyinward extending projection carried on the top hat adapted to engage theendform when the endform is inserted into the bore in the connectorhousing.
 17. The fluid quick connector of claim 16 wherein: the at leastone projection comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedprojections.
 18. The fluid quick connector of claim 16 wherein: theplurality of projections comprises three circumferentially spacedprojections.
 19. A fluid quick connector comprising: a connector housingconfigured to mate with a endform along a first axis; the connectorhousing and the endform being electrically conductive; a spacer and atop hat disposed in a through bore in the connector housing about theendform; and an electrical contact member carried on one of the spacerand the top hat for establishing electrical contact between the endformand the connector body.
 20. The fluid quick connector of claim 19further comprising: at least one of the spacer and the top hat formed ofan electrically conductive material; and the electrical contact memberbeing a radially inward projection carried on one of the spacer and thetop hat adapted to engage the endform where the male endform is mountedin the bore in the connector housing.
 21. The fluid quick connector ofclaim 20 wherein: the at least one projection comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced projections.
 22. The fluid quick connector ofclaim 21 wherein: the plurality of circumferentially spaced projectionscomprises at least three projections.
 23. An electrical contact for afluid quick connector having a connector housing configured to mate withan endform, the electrical contact comprising: an electricallyconductive body adapted to be disposed in a bore of a connector housingabout an endform inserted into the housing to establish electricalcontact between the endform and the connector housing.
 24. Theelectrical contact of claim 23 further comprising: the electricallyconductive body having an outer diameter disposing the body in contactwith an inner diameter of the bore in the connector housing; and Atleast one radially extending contact carried on the body adapted toengage the endform where the endform is mounted in the bore in theconnector housing.
 25. The electrical contact of claim 24 wherein: theat least one contact projection comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced contact projections.
 26. The electrical contactof claim 25 wherein: the plurality of circumferentially spaced contactprojections comprises at least three contact projections.
 27. Theelectrical contact of claim 25 wherein the plurality of contactprojections are equi-circumferentially spaced about an inner surface ofthe contact body.